What is Bluetooth Used For?

As technology evolves, we’ve invented many technologies to help us keep in touch with our friends and family.  One such technology is Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a network technology that allows connecting devices wirelessly over a short distance. It uses the short wavelength, Ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves for wireless communications and building personal networks (PAN). It operates at the range of 2.400 to 2.483.5 GHz and can support 721KBPS. Bluetooth is a popular choice for sending data because you don’t need additional equipment such as modems and routers.  

Bluetooth has a wide range of applications. Bluetooth enabled applications include smartphones, headphones, baby monitors, and garage-door openers to name but a few. Before looking what Bluetooth is used for, let’s first look at how Bluetooth works.

How Bluetooth works?

As you already know, Bluetooth uses radio waves instead of cables or wires to connect different devices. The Bluetooth network consists of a Personal Area Network referred to as a piconet. When a device becomes a member of more than one piconet, a scatternet is formed. You can connect a minimum of two devices to a maximum of 8 Bluetooth devices. There is a master device which initiates communication with the other devices. The other devices are called slave devices.  Bluetooth doesn’t rely on mobile data, Wi-Fi, or a cell network. As long as two devices are Bluetooth enabled and in close proximity, they can communicate wirelessly. 

Bluetooth Addresses and Names

Every Bluetooth device has a unique 48-bit address abbreviated as BD_ADDR.  This address is usually in the form of a 12 digit hexadecimal value.  The first 24 bits is an organizations unique identifier. However, Bluetooth have user-friendly names assigned to them. This makes it easier to identify surrounding devices before connecting

Connection Process

The Bluetooth connection process us a multi-process step that involves the following states:

1. Inquiry:  When connecting Bluetooth devices for the first time, one must run an inquiry to try to find the other. One of the devices sends out an inquiry request while the other listens to such requests and responds with its address
2. Paging: This is the process of establishing a connection between two Bluetooth enabled devices. The devices must know each other’s address before a connection can be established.
3. Connection: After the paging process, the devices enter the connection state. Once connected, a device can be in any of the following modes.

• Active Mode: In this mode the device actively sends and receives data.
• Sniff mode: In this mode, the device is less active. It sleeps and listens for transmissions at a set interval.  This is also referred to as the power saving mode.
• Hold Mode:  This is a temporary power saving mode. The device sleeps for a defined time and returns back to active mode after the interval elapses.  
• Park Mode:  This is the deepest of sleep modes. The device remains inactive until the master activates it.

Feature of Bluetooth

• Range:  About 30 to 100 meters
• Number of devices in a piconet: 8 (Unlimited in Bluetooth low energy version)
• Spreading: FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum)
• Data Rate: Up to 1Mbps

Bluetooth Power Classes

The range a Bluetooth device can reach is defined by its power class. There are three classes of power

Class	Max output power (Mw)	Max Output Power (dBm)	Max Range
Class 1	100 mW	20 dBm	100m
Class 2	2.5 mW	4 dBm	10m
Class 3	1 mW	0 dBM	10 cm

How Do I Use Bluetooth?

First, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled and discoverable in your device.  Switch the Bluetooth device on and then look for the device you wish to connect with. Tap on the name of the device you want to connect with to pair them. You may be asked for a pin. If you don’t know it, check for the default pin in the device settings.

Now that you know how Bluetooth works, let’s now look at some of its uses.

Uses of Bluetooth

Here are the common uses of Bluetooth(Pixels)

1. To Transfer Files Wirelessly Between Mobile Devices and Computers

You can use Bluetooth to pair a smartphone and a Bluetooth enabled PC or laptop and share files wirelessly. This can be useful if you don’t have a USB cable or if wireless file transfer amazes you. You can use Bluetooth to send large music files between these devices but it’s more convenient for small files such as a few pictures.

To pair your smart phone or table to a Bluetooth enable PC, you must ensure that both devices are discoverable so that they can find each other. After pairing the devices, you can select the Send a File or Receive a File option to send the files or use the Bluetooth File Transfer wizard tool.

2. To Transfer Files Wirelessly Between Computers

You can also pair two Bluetooth computers and share files between the wirelessly via  Bluetooth just as you could pair your smartphone and computer. This can be helpful if you have two computers in the same area but you don’t have a cable.

3. To Tether a Computer to a Smartphone

To tether is to share a device’s network connection with another device. The computer uses the smartphone’s network to connect to the internet.   You don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi for internet connection.   Bluetooth consumes less battery power than Wi-Fi. It may be the ideal option for you..

4. For Hands-Free Driving In Cars

You can also pair your handset and automobile. This allows you to make calls without the need of touching your phone. Setting up this connection depends on your car and manufacturer.  However, on your phone it will simply be a case of searching for available Bluetooth devices.

5. To Connect Peripherals Wirelessly

Besides the common Bluetooth devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, there are other multiple Bluetooth enabled peripheral devices. These devices include:

• Headsets:  Bluetooth headsets are probably the most common Bluetooth peripheral device.  You can pair your headsets and smartphones and use it to receive calls wirelessly. Bluetooth headsets have buttons which allow you to receive and hang up calls.
• Other Audio Devices:  Bluetooth enabled headsets are not the only audio devices that use Bluetooth.   You can pair the headsets with a Bluetooth speaker or even a Bluetooth audio receiver plugged in your home stereo system.
• Keyboards: Keyboards are another common type of Bluetooth accessory. Most tablets users find Bluetooth enabled keyboards useful. Unlike the USB OTG which connects to a single mouse or keyboard, you can use Bluetooth to connect both the keyboard and mouse. Bluetooth does not limit you to one input device by the single USB port.
• Mice: You can also connect your mouse to your pc or laptop using Bluetooth.  Most of the available wireless mice use USB dongles instead of Bluetooth. However, Bluetooth mice are the best for tablets and similar devices.
• Gamepads: Gamepads are another Bluetooth accessory. You can connect wireless gamepads to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. This minimizes any disruptions that can be caused by cables or wires.
• Printers: Bluetooth enabled printers allow you to connect and print documents via Bluetooth connection. This can be essential especially if you don’t have Wi-Fi or a wired network connection.

6. For  Health Monitoring and Diagnosis 

Bluetooth has made it possible to log information from medical equipment like glucose monitors, stethoscopes, and pacemakers. This saves time for both patients and doctors and also makes medical equipment more accessible. Bluetooth enabled fitness equipment make it easier to follow exercise routines. Heart rate monitors and GPS trackers automatically report calories burned to your headphones.

Bluetooth Security

Before using Bluetooth it’s important to know whether it is secure or not. Wireless communication is relatively less secure than wired communication. It is difficult to crack wired communication. In wireless communication it is possible to eavesdrop in wireless networks because information is transmitted in open air. All a scammer has to do is to be within range of a wireless transmitter to pick up the signals. However, Bluetooth is encrypted to get around this problem. Bluetooth allows you to restrict certain devices and only allows connecting with trusted devices.  For example allowing you to connect to devices you’ve paired before. This is referred as device level security. You can also restrict what other devices can do with your device. This is referred to as service-level security. 

Be cautious when using Bluetooth especially when in public places such as at the airport. Hackers have come up with techniques such as Bluesnarfing, Bluejacking, and Bluebugging to get past Bluetooth’s security.

Advantages of Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology has the following advantages.

1.  Wireless

Bluetooth does not require any form of wires to transmit data.  Cables and wires can be a great distraction. When gaming, any distraction can make you lose. 

2. No Interference

Bluetooth uses a technology called Speed Frequency Hopping which reduces radio interference.  Speed Frequency Hopping allows Bluetooth devices to access channels of a frequency band one at a time. This makes sure that devices can make use of the limited slice of radio spectrum.  Besides, walls can’t interfere with Bluetooth. This allows you to pair different devices even if they are in different rooms.

3. Availability

Bluetooth is now available in almost every device.  This numerous devices indicate its universal availability,

4. Usability

Any rookie can use Bluetooth. You don’t need to be tech savvy to use it. You don’t need to install any drivers or software before pairing.  This makes the pairing process simple. All you have to do is to enable Bluetooth in your device and make it discoverable. As long as they are in close proximity, the devices will connect instantly. PIN authentication may be required in some devices.

5. Efficiency

Another great advantage of Bluetooth is that it is energy efficient.  Bluetooth uses low power signals making it to consume less battery power.  This is especially for the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard.

Drawbacks of Bluetooth

Bluetooth has lots of applications and uses. However, it also has a few drawbacks. Let’s look at some of its drawbacks.

1. Speed

Wireless technologies transmit data slowly. This is especially true for Bluetooth.  Bluetooth is energy sufficient and thus the slow speed.   Besides, we can’t compare Bluetooth to Wi-Fi direct which transmits data at faster rates. This means that Bluetooth is not ideal for transferring large files such as audios and videos. 

2. Compatibility

Although Bluetooth devices are based on the standard, not all Bluetooth versions are compatible with each other. The latest versions have different profiles and drivers making them not compatible with the older versions. For instance, Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy is not compatible with other versions of Bluetooth.

3. Range

Bluetooth has a maximum range of 100 M. All though this range is wider than that of infrared, this is typically lower than Wi-Fi’s range. However, the Bluetooth range varies with the devices. Make sure that the devices you want to connect are close to each other to maintain a strong connection.

4. Security

Although Bluetooth implements various security mechanisms, the fact that it uses Radio frequencies make it a vulnerable to security threats.  It’s possible for hackers and scammers to get your personal information from your device using Bluetooth. However, this is only possible if you are within the accepted range.  It is advisable not use Bluetooth for personal data transfer.

Wrap Up

Bluetooth has truly changed the world.   It can be used aforementioned to sharing files and other information is now so simple.  Stereo audio is one of Bluetooth’s main applications. The use of “Bluetooth hands-free” enables you to listen to your favorite music and even make calls without any wires connecting directly to your car. Besides this, it has a myriad of advantages. Its biggest advantage is that it is wireless, However, it can only be used effectively over a maximum range of 100 meters. Wi-Fi has a wider range and transmits data faster.

In a nutshell, the benefits of Bluetooth outweigh its disadvantages.  Its ease of use and convenience is unmatched.  This brings us to the end of our article on the uses of Bluetooth. I hope that you found this article informative. Keep it here for related content.